Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Siege of the Trinity Lavra. Sculptural images of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Years in the village of Varnitsy, near Rostov, in the family of pious and noble boyars Kirill and Maria, he received the name Bartholomew at baptism.

From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone by fasting; on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not accept mother’s milk; on other days, if Maria ate meat, the baby also refused mother’s milk. Noticing this, Maria completely refused to eat meat.

At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to study with his two brothers - the elder Stefan and the younger Peter. His brothers studied successfully, but Bartholomew lagged behind in his studies, although the teacher worked with him a lot. The parents scolded the child, the teacher punished him, and his comrades mocked him for his stupidity. Then Bartholomew with tears prayed to the Lord to grant him book understanding. One day his father sent Bartholomew to fetch horses from the field. On the way, he met an Angel sent by God in a monastic form: an old man stood under an oak tree in the middle of a field and prayed. Bartholomew approached him and, bowing, began to wait for the end of the elder’s prayer. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked what he wanted. Bartholomew replied: “With all my soul I wish to learn to read and write, Holy Father, pray to God for me, so that He will help me learn to read and write.” The monk fulfilled Bartholomew's request, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the youth, said to him: “From now on, God gives you, my child, to understand literacy, you will surpass your brothers and peers.” At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a piece of prosphora: “Take, child, and eat,” he said. “This is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and for the understanding of Holy Scripture.” The elder wanted to leave, but Bartholomew asked him to visit his parents’ house. The parents greeted the guest with honor and offered refreshments. The elder replied that first one should taste spiritual food, and ordered their son to read the Psalter. Bartholomew began to read harmoniously, and the parents were surprised at the change that had taken place in their son. Saying goodbye, the elder prophetically predicted about St. Sergius: “Your son will be great before God and people. He will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit.” From then on, the holy youth easily read and understood the contents of books. With special zeal, he began to delve deeper into prayer, not missing a single service. Already as a child, he imposed a strict fast on himself, did not eat anything on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on other days he ate only bread and water.

For centuries, the relics of St. Sergius rested in the Trinity Lavra, which he founded, being one of the greatest shrines of the Russian Church. Naturally, they were one of the first targets of the anti-church struggle unleashed by the atheists who came to power after the October Revolution in the year. The closure of the Lavra was preceded by the blasphemous opening of the relics of St. Sergius in the year, which was one of the main links in the authorities’ broad campaign to open the holy relics. When the Lavra was closed in the year, the holy relics were placed in a museum. Before this, priest Pavel Florensky and Count Yuri Alexandrovich Olsufiev, with the blessing of Patriarch Tikhon, secretly hid the honest head of the saint from everyone. Only in the year, after the Lavra, along with the holy relics, was returned to the Church, the honest head was reunited with the body.

Prayer Books

Troparion to Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh, Wonderworker of All Russia, tone 4

As an ascetic of virtues, / like a true warrior of Christ God, / you labored in the passion of great men in the temporal life, / in singing, vigils and fasting, you became your disciple; / In the same way, the Most Holy Spirit dwells in you, / By whose action you are brightly adorned. / But as having the boldness to Holy Trinity, / remember the flock that you have gathered, wise, / and do not forget, as you promised, / visiting your children, / Reverend Sergius, our father.

Troparion, tone 8

From your youth you received Christ in your soul, reverend, / and most of all you desired to evade worldly rebellion, / you courageously moved into the desert, / and you raised the children of obedience in it, the fruits of humility. / Thus, having lived in the Trinity, / through your miracles you enlightened everyone who came to you with faith, / and abundantly provided healing to everyone. / Our Father Sergius, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion, voice of the same

In the purity of your life, you have collected the source of your tears, / confessions, and the sweat of labor, / and you have poured out a spiritual font, O holy Sergius, / washing away the defilement of both your soul and body in the depravity that creates love in your memory. / For these sake, thy children, we cry unto thee: / pray, Father, to the Holy Trinity for our souls.

Troparion for the Finding of Relics, Tone 4

Today the reigning city of Moscow shines brightly, / as if we are illuminated by the lightning dawns, lightning of your miracles, / the whole universe is convening / to praise you, God-wise Sergius, / your most honorable and glorious abode, / even in the name of the Holy Trinity you created your many works, Father, / if your disciples have your flocks within you, / you will be filled with gladness and joy. / We, celebrating the glorious discovery of your honorable relics, in the hidden lands, / like a fragrant flower and a fragrant censer, / kindly kissing me, various healing acceptable / and through your prayers we are granted forgiveness of sins, / Father Reverend Sergius, / pray to the Holy Trinity to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 8

Having been wounded by Christ’s love, reverend, / and following that irrevocable desire, / you hated all carnal pleasures, / and like the sun of your Fatherland you shone, / with this Christ enriched you with the gift of miracles. / Remember us, who honor your blessed memory, and we call to you: / Rejoice, Sergius the God-Wise.

In kontakion, voice the same

As an equal to the incorporeal, / you have surpassed all the saints through the labors of fasting and vigils of prayer, the wise Sergius, / thus you received from God to heal ailments and drive away demons / and for this reason we cry out to you: / Rejoice, Father Reverend Sergius.

Kontakion for the Finding of Relics, Tone 8

Today, like the sun, your venerable relics have shone forth from the earth, appearing imperishable, / like a fragrant flower, shining with many miracles, / and exuding various healings to all the faithful, / and cheerfully your chosen flock, / you have gathered wisely and shepherded them well, / For them even now you stand before the Trinity, praying, / and we all cry out to you: / Rejoice, Sergius the God-Wise.

Troparion of St. Sergius and Nikon of Radonezh, tone 8

Like the three-bright sun of the luminous stars, / You illuminate the hearts of the faithful with the Trinity light, / the vessels of the Light of the Most Holy Trinity appeared, / and through your wonderful life as a monk, the establishment of the law was quickly established, / and the splendor of the churches, and the faithful, and the saint, and all people, / for all the demonic filth having driven away from here / with your pure teachings and deeds, / kindly shepherd the flock gathered by you, / but even now we pray to you: visit your children, / as they have boldness towards the Holy Trinity, / the wise God, Sergius with his wonderful disciple Nikon, / and pray to Christ May God save our souls.

Kontakion St. Sergius and Nikon of Radonezh, tone 8

In fasting, having joined the Great Anthony / and Euthymius of Jerusalem, jealous of the labors, / like angels, appearing on earth, / enlightening, reverend, faithful hearts / Divine signs and wonders always, / for this sake we joyfully honor you and cry out to you with love: / Rejoice, reverend Fathers Sergius and Nikon, / the fertilization of the fasting man and the entire Russian land is a great affirmation.

Literature

Life (large)
Life (large, divided into separate chapter pages)

Used materials

Life (according to the "Handbook of a Clergyman"):
Complete Troparion, Publishing house "Trinity", 2006, vol. 1, p. 71-73, 81, 82.
Andronik (Trubachev), abbot., "The fate of the head of St. Sergius", ZhMP, 2001, No. 4, p. 33-53.

Reverend Sergius was born in the village of Varnitsa, near Rostov, on May 3, 1314 into a pious and noble boyar family.

The Lord chose him from his mother's womb. The life of St. Sergius tells that during the Divine Liturgy, even before the birth of her son, his mother and the worshipers heard the baby exclamation three times: before the reading of the Holy Gospel, during the Cherubic Song, and when the priest said: “Holy to Holies.”

God gave the Monk Cyril and Mary a son, who was named Bartholomew. From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone with fasting: on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not accept mother’s milk, on other days, if his mother ate meat, the baby also refused mother’s milk. Noticing this, Maria completely refused to eat meat.

At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to study with his two brothers, the elder Stefan and the younger Peter. His brothers studied successfully, but Bartholomew lagged behind in his studies. Then Bartholomew with tears prayed to the Lord to grant him book understanding. One day his father sent Bartholomew to look for the missing horses. On the way, he met an Angel sent by God in a monastic form: an old man stood under an oak tree in the middle of a field and prayed. Bartholomew approached him and, bowing, began to wait for the end of the elder’s prayer. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked what he wanted. Bartholomew replied that he wanted to learn to read and write and asked God to pray for him. The monk fulfilled Bartholomew's request, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the youth, told him that God would give him the ability to read and write. At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a piece of prosphora as a sign of God’s grace and for the understanding of Holy Scripture. The elder wanted to leave, but Bartholomew asked him to visit his parents’ house. The parents greeted the guest with honor and offered refreshments. The elder replied that first one should taste spiritual food, and ordered their son to read the Psalter. Bartholomew began to read harmoniously, and the parents were surprised at the change that had taken place in their son. Saying goodbye, the elder prophetically predicted about St. Sergius: “Your son will be great before God and people. It will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit.” From then on, the holy youth easily read and understood the contents of books; with special zeal, he began to delve deeper into prayer, not missing a single service. Already as a child, he imposed a strict fast on himself, did not eat anything on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on other days he ate only bread and water. Around 1328, the parents of St. Sergius moved from Rostov to Radonezh. When their eldest sons got married, the Monks Cyril and Maria, shortly before their death, accepted the schema at the Khotkovo Monastery of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, not far from Radonezh. Subsequently, the widowed elder brother Stefan also accepted monasticism in this monastery. Having buried his parents, Bartholomew, together with his brother Stefan, retired to live in the wilderness in the forest near Radonezh. First they built a cell, and then a small church, and, with the blessing of Metropolitan Theognostus, it was consecrated in the Name of the Holy Trinity. But soon, unable to withstand the difficulties of life in a deserted place, Stefan left his brother and moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery (where he became close to the monk Alexy, later Metropolitan of Moscow).

Bartholomew, on October 7, 1337, took monastic vows from Abbot Mitrofan with the name of the holy martyr Sergius and laid the foundation for a new residence in glory Life-Giving Trinity. Enduring temptations and demonic fears, the monk rose from strength to strength. The exploits of St. Sergius could not be hidden, and the fragrance of his holy life spread far away. People began to flock to him and gather under his roof, eager to bear the yoke of Christ. Venerable Sergius He received everyone with love, and soon a brotherhood of twelve monks was formed in the small monastery. Their experienced spiritual guide was distinguished by rare diligence. With his own hands he built cells, carried water, chopped wood, baked bread, sewed clothes, prepared food for the brethren, and humbly performed other work. Hard labour St. Sergius combined it with prayer, vigil and fasting. The brethren were surprised that with such a severe feat, the health of their mentor not only did not deteriorate, but became even stronger. Not without difficulty, the monks begged St. Sergius to accept the abbess of the monastery.

In 1354, Bishop Athanasius of Volyn ordained the monk a hieromonk and elevated him to the rank of abbot.

Monastic obediences were still strictly observed in the monastery. As the monastery grew, so did its needs. Often the monks ate meager food, but through the prayers of St. Sergius unknown people They brought everything we needed.

The glory of the exploits of the Monk Sergius became known in Constantinople, and Patriarch Philotheus sent the monk a cross, a paraman and a schema as a blessing for new exploits, a Blessed Letter, and advised the chosen one of God to establish a cenobitic monastery. With the patriarchal message, the monk went to Saint Alexy and received from him advice to introduce a strict community system. The monks began to grumble about the severity of the rules, and the monk was forced to leave the monastery.

On the Kirzhach River he founded a monastery in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Order in the former monastery began to quickly decline, and the remaining monks turned to Saint Alexis so that he would return the saint.

The Monk Sergius unquestioningly obeyed the saint, leaving his disciple, the Monk Roman, as abbot of the Kirzhach Monastery.

During his lifetime, Saint Sergius was awarded the grace-filled gift of miracles. He resurrected the boy when the desperate father considered his only son forever lost. The fame of the miracles performed by St. Sergius began to quickly spread, and sick people began to be brought to him both from surrounding villages and from distant places. And no one left the monk without receiving healing of ailments and edifying advice.

One day, Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm, who deeply revered the saint, was heading from his diocese to Moscow. The road ran eight miles from the Sergius Monastery. Intending to visit the monastery on the way back, the saint stopped and, having read a prayer, bowed to St. Sergius with the words: “Peace be with you, spiritual brother.” At this time, the Monk Sergius was sitting with the brethren at meal. In response to the saint’s blessing, the Monk Sergius stood up, read a prayer and sent a return blessing to the saint. Some of the disciples, surprised by the saint’s extraordinary act, hurried to the indicated place and, having caught up with the saint, became convinced of the truth of the vision.

Gradually, the monks began to witness other similar phenomena. Once during the Liturgy the Angel of the Lord concelebrated with the saint, but out of his humility the Monk Sergius forbade anyone to tell about this for the rest of his life.

Close bonds of spiritual friendship and brotherly love connected Saint Sergius with Saint Alexis. The saint, in his declining years, called the saint to him and asked to accept the Russian metropolitanate, but Blessed Sergius, out of humility, refused the primacy.

The Russian land at that time suffered from Tatar yoke. Grand Duke Dimitri Ioannovich Donskoy, having gathered an army, came to the monastery of St. Sergius to ask for a blessing for the upcoming battle. To help the Grand Duke, the monk blessed two monks of his monastery: schema-monk Andrei (Oslyabya) and schema-monk Alexander (Peresvet) and predicted victory for Prince Demetrius. The prophecy of St. Sergius was fulfilled: on September 8, 1380, on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Russian soldiers won a complete victory over the Tatar hordes on the Kulikovo field, marking the beginning of the liberation of the Russian land from the Tatar yoke. During the battle, St. Sergius stood with his brethren in prayer and asked God to grant victory to the Russian army, and also remembered all those who fell on the battlefield, seeing with spiritual eyes the battle that was taking place.

For his angelic life, the Monk Sergius was awarded heavenly vision from God. One night Abba Sergius read the rule in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Having finished reading the canon of the Mother of God, he sat down to rest, but suddenly told his disciple, the Monk Micah, that a miraculous visit awaited them. Soon she appeared Mother of God accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. The Monk Sergius fell on his face before the Most Holy Theotokos. She touched him with her hands and, blessing him, promised to always patronize his holy monastery.

The monk reposed before God on September 25, 1392. The day before, the great saint of God last time called on the brethren and addressed them with the words of his testament: “Take heed to yourself, brethren. First have the fear of God, spiritual purity and unfeigned love.”

On July 5, 1422, the Monk Nikon carried out the incorrupt relics of the Monk Sergius and placed them in the stone Trinity Cathedral of the monastery, specially erected for this purpose. To this day, the holy relics of St. Sergius are the most precious treasure of the monastery, a source of grace-filled healings for mental and physical infirmities of all who prayerfully resort to his intercession.

Special prayers are offered to the monk for the abolition of pride and conceit, for the gift of children with the ability to learn science.

Monk of the Russian Church, founder of the Trinity Monastery near Moscow, transformer of monasticism in Northern Rus'. (Wikipedia)

July 5 (old)/ July 18 (new style)- acquisition of honest relics (1422);
July 6 (old)/ July 19 (new style)— Cathedral of Radonezh Saints;
September 25 (old) / October 8 (new style)- repose (death) (1392).
Besides, August 24 (September 6) The appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius is celebrated.

Date and place of birth: 14 May 1314, p. Varnitsy, (near Rostov the Great)
Date and place of death: September 25, 1392 (age 78), Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

St. Sergius of Radonezh is one of the most famous Russian saints. Founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, teacher and mentor of many dozens of Russian saints. The monk truly became the abbot and intercessor of the entire Russian Land, an example of meekness and humility for monks and laity. They pray to St. Sergius for help in learning, in monastic work, for overcoming passions, for increasing faith, for preserving the Fatherland from the invasion of foreigners.

Brief Life

The Monk Sergius was born in the village of Varnitsa, near Rostov, on May 3, 1314, into the family of pious and noble boyars Kirill and Maria. The Lord chose him from his mother's womb. The Life of St. Sergius tells that during the Divine Liturgy even before the birth of his son righteous Mary and the worshipers heard the baby’s three-time exclamation: before the reading of the Holy Gospel, during the Cherubic Song and when the priest said: “Holy to saints.” God gave the Monk Cyril and Mary a son, who was named Bartholomew.

One day his father sent Bartholomew to fetch horses from the field. On the way, he met an Angel sent by God in a monastic form: an old man stood under an oak tree in the middle of a field and prayed. Bartholomew approached him and, bowing, began to wait for the end of the elder’s prayer. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked what he wanted. Bartholomew replied: “With all my soul I wish to learn to read and write, Holy Father, pray to God for me, so that He will help me learn to read and write.” The monk fulfilled Bartholomew’s request, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the youth, said to him: “From now on, God gives you, my child, to understand literacy, you will surpass your brothers and peers.” At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a piece of prosphora: “Take it, child, and eat it,” he said. “This is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and for the understanding of Holy Scripture.” The elder wanted to leave, but Bartholomew asked him to visit his parents’ house.

The parents greeted the guest with honor and offered refreshments. The elder replied that first one should taste spiritual food, and ordered their son to read the Psalter. Bartholomew began to read harmoniously, and the parents were surprised at the change that had taken place in their son. Saying goodbye, the elder prophetically predicted about St. Sergius: “Your son will be great before God and people. It will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit.” From then on, the holy youth easily read and understood the contents of books. With special zeal, he began to delve deeper into prayer, not missing a single service. Already as a child, he imposed a strict fast on himself, did not eat anything on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on other days he ate only bread and water.

Around 1328, the parents of St. Sergius moved from Rostov to Radonezh. When their eldest sons got married, Cyril and Maria, shortly before their death, took the schema at the Khotkovsky Monastery of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, not far from Radonezh. Subsequently, the widowed elder brother Stefan also accepted monasticism in this monastery. Having buried his parents, Bartholomew, together with his brother Stefan, retired to live as a desert in the forest (12 versts from Radonezh). First they erected a cell, and then a small church, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Theognostus, it was consecrated in the Name of the Holy Trinity. But soon, unable to withstand the difficulties of life in a deserted place, Stefan left his brother and moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery (where he became close to the monk Alexy, later Metropolitan of Moscow, commemorated February 12).

Bartholomew, on October 7, 1337, took monastic vows from Abbot Mitrofan with the name of the holy martyr Sergius (October 7) and marked the beginning of a new residence for the glory of the Life-Giving Trinity. Enduring temptations and demonic fears, the Reverend rose from strength to strength. Gradually he became known to other monks who sought his guidance.

The Monk Sergius received everyone with love, and soon a brotherhood of twelve monks was formed in the small monastery. Their experienced spiritual mentor was distinguished by his rare diligence. With his own hands he built several cells, carried water, chopped wood, baked bread, sewed clothes, prepared food for the brethren, and humbly performed other work. St. Sergius combined hard work with prayer, vigil and fasting. The brethren were surprised that with such a severe feat, the health of their mentor not only did not deteriorate, but became even stronger. Not without difficulty, the monks begged St. Sergius to accept the abbess of the monastery. In 1354, Bishop Athanasius of Volyn ordained the Rev. a hieromonk and elevated him to the rank of abbot. Monastic obediences were still strictly observed in the monastery. As the monastery grew, so did its needs. Often the monks ate meager food, but through the prayers of St. Sergius, unknown people brought everything they needed.

The glory of the exploits of St. Sergius became known in Constantinople, and Patriarch Philotheus sent the Rev. a cross, a paraman and a schema, as a blessing for new exploits, a Blessed Letter, and advised the chosen one of God to establish a cenobitic monastery. With the patriarchal message, the Reverend went to Saint Alexy and received from him advice to introduce a strict community system. The monks began to grumble about the severity of the rules, and the Reverend was forced to leave the monastery. On the Kirzhach River he founded a monastery in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Order in the former monastery began to quickly decline, and the remaining monks turned to Saint Alexis so that he would return the saint.

The Monk Sergius unquestioningly obeyed the saint, leaving his disciple, the Monk Roman, as abbot of the Kirzhach Monastery.

During his lifetime, St. Sergius was awarded the grace-filled gift of miracles. He resurrected the boy when the desperate father considered his only son forever lost. The fame of the miracles performed by St. Sergius began to quickly spread, and sick people began to be brought to him both from surrounding villages and from distant places. And no one left the Reverend without receiving healing of ailments and edifying advice. Everyone glorified St. Sergius and reverently revered him on a par with the ancient holy fathers. But human glory did not seduce the great ascetic, and he still remained a model of monastic humility.

One day Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm (April 27), who deeply revered the Monk, was heading from his diocese to Moscow. The road ran eight miles from the Sergius Monastery. Intending to visit the monastery on the way back, the saint stopped and, having read a prayer, bowed to St. Sergius with the words: “Peace be with you, spiritual brother.” At this time, the Monk Sergius was sitting with the brethren at meal. In response to the blessing of the saint, the Monk Sergius stood up, read a prayer and sent a return blessing to the saint. Some of the disciples, surprised by the Saint’s extraordinary act, hastened to the indicated place and, having caught up with the saint, became convinced of the truth of the vision.

Gradually, the monks began to witness other similar phenomena. Once, during the liturgy, an Angel of the Lord concelebrated with the Saint, but in his humility, Saint Sergius forbade anyone to tell about this until the end of his life on earth.

Close ties of spiritual friendship and brotherly love connected St. Sergius with St. Alexis. The saint, in his declining years, called the Venerable One to him and asked to accept the Russian Metropolis, but Blessed Sergius, out of humility, refused the primacy.

The Russian land at that time suffered from the Tatar yoke. Grand Duke Dimitri Ioannovich Donskoy, having gathered an army, came to the monastery of St. Sergius to ask for a blessing for the upcoming battle. To help the Grand Duke, the Reverend blessed two monks of his monastery: schema-monk Andrei (Oslyabya) and schema-monk Alexander (Peresvet), and predicted victory for Prince Demetrius. The prophecy of St. Sergius was fulfilled: on September 8, 1380, on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Russian soldiers won a complete victory over the Tatar hordes on the Kulikovo field, marking the beginning of the liberation of the Russian land from the Tatar yoke. During the battle, St. Sergius stood with his brethren in prayer and asked God to grant victory to the Russian army.

For his angelic life, St. Sergius was awarded heavenly vision from God. One night Abba Sergius read the rule in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Having finished reading the canon of the Mother of God, he sat down to rest, but suddenly told his disciple, the Monk Micah (May 6), that a miraculous visit awaited them. A moment later, the Mother of God appeared, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. From the unusually bright light, St. Sergius fell on his face, but Holy Mother of God She touched him with her hands and, blessing him, promised to always patronize his holy monastery.

Having reached a very old age, the monk, having foreseen his death six months later, called the brethren to him and blessed a disciple experienced in spiritual life and obedience, the venerable Nikon (November 17), to become abbess. In silent solitude, the Monk reposed before God on September 25, 1392. The day before, the great saint of God called the brethren for the last time and addressed the words of his testament: “Take heed to yourselves, brethren. First have the fear of God, spiritual purity and unfeigned love...”

Troparion to St. Sergius of Radonezh, tone 8

From your youth you received Christ in your soul, reverend, and most of all you desired to evade worldly rebellion: you courageously moved into the desert and the children of obedience in it, the fruits of humility, you grew. Thus, having given residence to the Trinity, you enlightened with your miracles all those who come to you by faith, and abundantly provided healing to everyone. Our Father Sergius, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion to St. Sergius of Radonezh, tone 4
(Finding of relics)

Today the reigning city of Moscow shines brightly, as with the radiant dawns and lightning of your miracles, it convenes the whole universe to praise you, God-Wise Sergius; Your most honorable and glorious monastery, even in the Name of the Holy Trinity you have created many of your works, Father, having your disciples in your flock, joy and joy are filled. We, celebrating the glorious discovery of your honorable relics, in the hidden lands, like a fragrant flower and a fragrant censer, kindly kissing me, accept various healings and are honored by your prayers for the forgiveness of sins, Father Reverend Sergius, pray to the Holy Trinity to save our souls.

Troparion and Kontakion to St. Sergius of Radonezh, Brothers of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Prayers to St. Sergius of Radonezh

Other sources

Library of Yakov KROTOV— THE LIFE AND MIRACLES OF THE REVEREND SERGIUS IGUMENE OF RADONEZH, RECORDED BY Reverend Epiphanius the Wise, Hieromonk Pachomius Logothetes and Elder Simon Azaryin. Moscow: Orthodox Encyclopedia, Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. M, 1997

Missionary and apologetic project “TO THE TRUTH”— The complete life of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Compiler of the Life of Sergius of Radonezh, Archimandrite Nikon of the Nativity, Archbishop of Vologda and Totem (1851 - 1919), prayer, akathist, canon, Hagiographic and scientific-historical literature about St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Publications about Sergius of Radonezh on the Pravmir.ru website: pravmir.ru

Life of Sergius of Radonezh, written on paper at the end of the 16th century, more than 600 facial images: Facial Life of Sergius of Radonezh

Additional materials

Archpriest Andrei Tkachev “Earthly angels, heavenly people.” M.: Danilovsky blagovestnik, 2013.-192s -

Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh, video (Sense and benefit)

Paintings by Sergei Efoshkin, cycle “The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh”

Sergey Efoshkin – artist-painter, member of the Union of Artists of Russia and the International Association Fine Arts lives and works in Moscow. Graduated from the Moscow State Art Institute. V.I. Surikov Academy of Arts. And since 1988 he himself became a teacher at Russian Academy painting, sculpture and architecture.

The artist works in genres historical painting, portrait, landscape, book design and illustrations. Sergei Efoshkin is the author of pictorial historical cycles: “The Life of St. Sergei of Radonezh, XIV century,” “From the history of the Russian State,” “The Life and Miracles of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker,” as well as the author of the design and illustrations of the books: V.P. Stolyarov "The Legend of the Saint" Nicholas the Archbishop Mirlikiysky, miracle worker”, O. Kastkina “Reverend Sergius of Radonezh”, publications of the Novospassky Monastery “ABC in Proverbs”.

A separate direction in the artist’s work was the work on murals of Orthodox churches in Moscow. S. Efoshkin is a repeated winner of various domestic and international competitions, actively participates in exhibition activities. It is impossible not to note the artist’s personal exhibitions that were held with great success in many cities of Russia, as well as in near and far abroad.

Book miniatures “The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh the Wonderworker”

Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. 16 postcards. Published in the printing house of the Patriarchal Publishing and Printing Center of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. -2014

Book miniatures by Tatiana Kiseleva, made in an iconographic manner, repeat the plots of the miniatures of the ancient manuscript of the Facial Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh - the oldest known manuscript of the Life of St. Sergius, the basis of which was the first biography of the saint, created by his disciple St. Epiphanius the Wise in the 15th century, priceless artistic masterpiece, decorated with 652 miniatures.

In any Orthodox church you will always find an icon with the image of the Venerable Elder Sergius of Radonezh. His large, famous icon conveys his serious and thoughtful look to us. Sergius of Radonezh was truly a great miracle worker of the Russian land, to whom we and our descendants should be grateful until the end of time. However, not many know about his merits and exploits.

In 2014, May 3 (16) all Christian Orthodox world celebrated the 700th anniversary of the birth of the visionary elder, who already during his lifetime became famous for his holiness. Throughout Rus' he was revered by various rulers, boyars, princes and simple peasant people.

Icon of Sergius of Radonezh. Photo

Everyone knows that icons of holy worshipers help people solve their problems. Therefore, I definitely want to know how the icon of Sergius of Radonezh helps. First of all, you need to know that only through sincere prayer and faith to this holy man and to God can people receive protection from any unpleasant life circumstances. Parents ask him for help in raising their children, protecting them from bad influences, giving them humility and taming their young pride, since this is the most great evil, which then causes a lot of trouble. With all this, people turn to him with different requests.

The icon of Sergius of Radonezh is not noticeable. Her photo, however, makes us think about whether we are doing everything right, whether we are ready to sacrifice our lives for our Fatherland, as our heroic ancestors did at the prompting of the great seer.

Icon "Sergius of Radonezh". Meaning in Orthodoxy

God gave him signs of grace, he could heal the sick. He once even resurrected his dying son through his father's desperate prayers. The Monk Sergius was able to see and hear at a distance. But the most remarkable and miraculous was the appearance of the Mother of God with the Apostle Peter to the elder during the Nativity Fast in 1384.

The Monk Sergius of Radonezh reposed peacefully on September 25 (October 8), 1392. Exactly 30 years later, his relics were discovered, and today they are kept in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra near Moscow.

This holy elder is always asked for intercession in the fate of Orthodox Rus'. The icon "Sergius of Radonezh" has become a real amulet for Russia against its enemies.

Childhood

Our God-bearing father Sergius was born in Rostov to pious parents Cyril and Mary, who were later also canonized. The Lord himself chose the future saint to serve. His mother, being pregnant, stood at the service, and at this time the cry of the baby was heard three times in the womb. The people standing around also heard this, and then the priest realized that soon a faithful servant of the Holy Trinity would appear in this world. The baby, who would later be named Bartholomew, jumped joyfully before the Lord and His Church as John the Baptist jumped joyfully in the womb of his mother before the Most Holy Theotokos.

The born baby Bartholomew no longer took his mother’s breast on Wednesdays and Fridays. This was the beginning of his great abstinence and fasting.

Boyhood

As a teenager he was sent to school, but his poor memory prevented him from studying well. An elder monk helped him in this, or, to be more precise, an angel sent by God, whom he met while walking through an oak grove. The elder promised that from now on the boy would study well himself, and then he would teach others. So the very young Bartholomew accepted the blessing, and from now on he had no problems with his studies. But instead of ordinary children's games, he devoted all his free time reading Holy Scripture.

The icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh is very necessary for parents, as it can help them in raising their children. And it is simply necessary for students who have difficulty studying, who have poor memory and attention. In general, the icon “Sergius of Radonezh” should be in every Orthodox home and in every believing family.

Radonezh

Then Bartholomew's parents moved from Rostov to Radonezh. There they rested in peace. After this, in 1337, the future saint distributed his inheritance to poor people and settled on Makovets Hill with his brother Stefan, a Khotkovsky monk of the Intercession Monastery. They built a hut on this site. So Bartholomew labored as a monk away from people, and began to pray unceasingly. Soon his brother left this wild, deserted abode, unable to withstand the harsh life.

After some time, Hieromonk Mitrofan came to him and blessed young Bartholomew to become a monk. He was then 23 years old, and they named him Sergius. Having learned about such a pious monk, other monks began to come and settle in his monastery. He received everyone kindly. Together with the brethren, they first built a small chapel, which Bishop Theognostos consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. Then, with the grace of Christ, the monastery was built. One day Archimandrite Simon came to them from Smolensk, he brought precious gifts and gave them into the hands of Father Sergius. These funds were used to build a large church and expand the monastery.

To this day, this church stands, renovated, in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery near Moscow, where both the holy relics and the icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh are located. This monastery is always crowded with pilgrims from all over Russia, who go there to honor the memory of the holy elder and ask him for protection and patronage.

Trinity Monastery. 1355

Over time, with the blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople Philotheus, a communal charter was introduced in the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh in 1355. The territory of the monastery was divided into three parts - public, residential and defensive. In the center of the monastery stood the new wooden Church of the Holy Trinity. The abbot of the monastery first became the previously mentioned abbot Mitrofan, and after his death - the Monk Sergius of Radonezh.

Soon the Trinity Monastery, supported by the great princes, began to be considered the center of the Moscow lands. It was here that the Monk Sergius of Radonezh blessed the army of Dmitry Donskoy for victory in battle with the horde of Mamai.

The Battle of Kulikovo took place on the birthday of the Mother of God, September 8 (September 21, new style), 1380. The date was not chosen by chance, because the Mother of God herself was the patron of Rus'. The monks of the Trinity Monastery Peresvet and Oslyabya, who had received the blessing of St. Sergius, entered the battlefield; they were once glorious warriors in Dmitry’s squad. It was everyone's sacred duty Orthodox Christian. The victory was won, many brothers died in those days. After the battle, Dmitry Donskoy came to the Trinity Monastery to personally notify Father Sergius of the victory.

There is such an extraordinary miraculous icon St. Sergius of Radonezh, where he blesses Prince Dmitry Donskoy for the Battle of Kulikovo. This icon can heal diseases and protect real warriors from injury and death.

Battle of Kulikovo. 1380

Let us dwell on the Battle of Kulikovo in more detail, because it was a great battle of Russian troops led by the Moscow Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy and the military leader of the Golden Horde, Khan Mamai.

Western, as they say today, occult curators and psychologists persuaded Mamai to go to Moscow and said that this war would strengthen the power and influence of the Golden Horde, and that Mamai as a commander could easily compete with Tamerlane himself. The West helped its mentor with weapons, money and specialists in taking fortresses. A military contingent with Genoese infantry was even presented. All that was required from Mamai was to destroy Muscovy as soon as possible, destroy and burn to the ground cities and villages, and make slaves the entire Slavic population. And after this victory, it will be possible to attack the Novgorod land with all our might in order to destroy and plunder it, especially since the troops of the Lithuanian Catholic Jagiello and the Livonian knights are always ready to come to the rescue. In the spring of 1380, the Khan's steppe army of thousands moved from the Volga to the Don.

The Decisive Role of St. Sergius

Most historians agree that a very important and main role The Monk Sergius of Radonezh played a role in the unification of Rus' before the advancing formidable enemy. At that difficult moment, many Russian principalities, which had previously waged endless internecine wars, united into a single fist. Saint Sergius managed to do the literally impossible - to reconcile two religions that were warring at that time. He showed the Vedic Russians that the true teaching of Jesus Christ has nothing in common with Western Christianity, that Christ never taught to organize Crusades, burn Vedic temples and heretics at the stake. He showed Russian Christians that true Christianity is as deep a teaching as their ancient faith, therefore there is no reason for religious hostility, since now perverted Christianity is coming from the West, where the most terrible and vile crimes are being committed under the name of Christ.

It is these unrest for Orthodox Rus' that the icon “Sergius of Radonezh” hides. Still, it was not for nothing that he was called “The Sorrower of the Russian Land,” since he never ceased to care for it and with his incessant prayers contributed to its spiritual uplift and liberation from the Tatar yoke.

Siege of the Trinity Lavra

So, the victory on the Kulikovo Field became a turning point in the struggle for the liberation of Rus' from the Mongol-Tatar yoke. However, the final liberation from it occurred much later - in 1480. The nomadic raids continued for a long time, in 1408 the Trinity Monastery was completely burned. But it literally rose again from the ashes, and people rebuilt it. In 1422, the Monk Sergius of Radonezh was also reburied.

The road from Moscow to Rostov, and then to Arkhangelsk, passed through the monastery. The heirs to the throne, Vasily III and Ivan the Terrible, were baptized in the Trinity Monastery. Over time, the monastery turned into a serious defensive fortress. It was surrounded by strong stone walls, which connected 12 towers. Ivan the Terrible personally supervised this construction.

Soon all this came in handy when defending the monastery from the numerous troops of False Dmitry II.

Resistance to interventionists. 1608-1609

In 1608-1609, the Sergiev Posad land repulsed the invaders. For 16 months there were terrible battles. The Poles wanted to rob the monastery and kill the defenders, who during the times of great unrest remained faithful to their Fatherland. Then the governors were the okolnichy prince G.B. Roshcha-Dolgoruky and the nobleman Alexei Golokhvastov. These defenders were strong in spirit, and their monastery was full of faith and was under the protection of the great wonderworker Sergius. At his coffin everyone kissed the cross and swore that they would never surrender their monastery to the enemy. After heavy attacks and scurvy that began due to poor nutrition, which claimed hundreds of lives over many months, only about 300 warriors remained in the monastery, although initially there were 2,400 people. These insignificant forces of the monastery were opposed by 15 to 30 thousand of the best armed forces of the Polish governors Sapieha and Lisovsky, who also had 60 guns.

On the night of one of the most decisive battles, when thousands of Polish troops rushed to the fortress, the impossible happened. Their squads for some reason fatal mistake, due to heavy fog or ridiculous orders from their superiors, they shot themselves, mistaking allied troops for enemies. And the besieged also very courageously met the enemy with fire. The next morning, joy knew no bounds, as the enemy siege weapons were abandoned and the enemy fled. With the name of God, the support of the Mother of God and the Holy Father Sergius, the heroic Russian soldiers held out. They were confident that victory would be theirs.

There was a lot of evidence of how Saint Sergius of Radonezh helped and advised his soldiers. He even appeared in a subtle dream to one monk and suggested that an enemy mine was underway under the monastery, and then two peasants blew themselves up and this mine, thereby accomplishing a great feat in the name of God and the Fatherland.

I really want to hope that the icon of Sergius of Radonezh, the prayer to this saint and his veneration, even today, will not leave Russia without his support.

Minin and Pozharsky. 1610

You cannot ignore the history associated with Minin and Pozharsky. After all, it is known from history that the comrade-in-arms of the governor Prince Pozharsky in the pious cause of expelling the Catholic interventionists was the landowner and butcher by trade Kozma Minin. He was distinguished by chastity and other virtues, loving silence, he always had God in his heart. One day, the Wonderworker Sergius of Radonezh appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to collect money and soldiers and go to Moscow, where the Polish king, who was preparing Rus' to accept the union, wanted to take the Russian throne.

At first Minin did not attach any significance to his dream. The landowner thought: “Well, who am I to do such things? important matters, and who will listen to me? But then the dream repeated itself twice more, and Minin, eventually repenting of his disobedience, decided on a God-pleasing deed. Minin and Pozharsky began to gather people throughout Rus'.

On March 19, 1611, a spontaneous uprising against the interventionists began in Moscow; the Poles were unable to resist it and locked themselves in Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin and burned Moscow. The situation was very difficult. The Poles have settled in the capital, in the north-west the Swedes are seizing Russian lands, in the southern outskirts hordes of Crimean Tatars are rampaging...

However, on August 22-24, the interventionists had less than half of their troops left. The Poles suffered heavy losses. The hope of owning the Moscow state was irrevocably destroyed. This means that Saint Sergius of Radonezh, whose icon and cross was always of help to them, heard the prayers of the defenders of Rus'.

Analyzing all these events, you begin to understand that it is not in vain and not by chance that at the most difficult moment for the Russian land, every time people encounter the image of St. Sergius.

I would certainly like to note that in Orthodox Christianity, military service is a God-pleasing activity. The Church always teaches us patriotism and love for the Motherland. This is the meaning that is embedded in the description of the icon of Sergius of Radonezh.

Conclusion

The life of the youth Bartholomew has become an example for modern children and youth, which convinces us that unpleasant external circumstances or such objective ones as ill health, inability to learn, can either destroy life or provide the basis for the formation strong personality and her special character traits, which is what happened to our venerable father Sergius of Radonezh.

Icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh always hears our prayers for our families, children, parents, and therefore for the future of the Fatherland.

Saint Sergius is one of the patrons of the city of Moscow and therefore he is asked to protect the capital from various troubles, as well as the prosperity of our entire country.

In front of the icon of this saint they pray for the protection of children from evil influences, for help in their studies, as well as for the protection of widows and children who were left without care.

St. Sergius can help the righteous court cases, it protects you from miscarriages of justice or injustice.

Sergius of Radonezh himself was humble, so prayers in front of his image help in taming the pride of either one’s own or another person.

It must be remembered that icons or saints do not “specialize” in any specific areas. It will be right when a person turns with faith in the power of God, and not in the power of this icon, this saint or prayer.
And .

THE LIFE OF REVEREND SERGIUS OF RADONEZH

Sergius of Radonezh was born near Rostov in the village of Varnitsa into a wealthy boyar family. By birth he received the name Bartholomew. The Russian Church considers May 3, 1314 as its birthday, but the exact day of Bartholomew’s birth is unknown.

From the very first days, the baby did not accept milk from his mother on Wednesdays and Fridays; when his mother ate meat, he also refused milk.

When the boy grew up, he, along with his brothers Stefan and Peter, were sent to study at a parochial school, but Bartholomew found it very difficult to study. And then one day, when he was 13 years old, an amazing event happened to him.

One day, Bartholomew went to look for horses. During these searches, the boy came to a clearing where the elder schema-monk was praying. He was kind

“like an Angel who stood in the field under an oak tree and prayed earnestly, with tears.”

Having humbly bowed to the elder, Bartholomew came up and stood next to him, waiting for him to finish praying. When the elder, having prayed, saw Bartholomew, he asked him: “ What are you looking for and what do you want, child?».

And then the boy told the stranger about his failures in his studies, and then asked him to pray for him, so that the Lord would help him master reading and writing. Then the elder took out a piece of prosphora from his knapsack, then blessed and ordered him to eat it. At the same time he said:

“...from now on the Lord will grant you good knowledge of literacy, greater than that of your brothers and peers.”

After this, Bartholomew asked the traveler to visit his parents’ house, and already leaving their hospitable home, the elder said:

“Your son will be the abode of the Holy Trinity and will lead many after him to the understanding of the Divine commandments.”

Bartholomew, already in adolescence, began to be strict about eating and prayed at night. Mom tried to dissuade her son from excessive severity and abstinence, but Bartholomew was adamant in his choice. Instead of playing with his peers, the boy went to church, read holy and spiritual books.

Around 1328, the parents of the future saint went bankrupt due to the excesses of the then officials, and then his family moved to Radonezh from Rostov. Bartholomew even then wanted to live a monastic life and asked his parents for blessings. His father and mother asked him to take care of them until death, and then become a monk. But after some time, both parents of the saint themselves took monastic vows, then each went to his own monastery. They lived as monks for several years, after which they left earthly life.

Monastic life

After Bartholomew buried his parents, he went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery, to his older brother Stefan, who by that time was a monk. But the saint needed more “strict monasticism,” so he stayed in the monastery for only a short time. Around 1335, he, together with Stefan, left the monastery and founded a hermitage in the remote Radonezh forest on the banks of the Konchura river. At this place they built a small wooden church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Now on this site there is a cathedral church also in the name of the Holy Trinity.

The life of the “hermits” was very hard and ascetic. Stefan couldn't stand it severe tests and went to Moscow to the Epiphany Monastery. Later he became its abbot.

When Bartholomew was left alone, he invited Elder Mitrofan to his place, who tonsured him as a monk. This happened at the age of about twenty years. When he was tonsured, the new monk was named Sergius.

Formation of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery

The Monk Sergius remained to live in the hermitage. In the biography of the saint it is written that he fed the wild animals that came to his hut, even to him whole year a bear visited, to whom Sergius left a piece of bread every day.

Life was not easy, but, despite the difficulties, there were monks who wanted to live next to Sergius, they even built their cells nearby.
Over time, twelve monks joined Sergius. In the hermitage they served midnight office, matins, hours, and a priest was invited to serve mass, since Sergius by that time was neither a priest nor an abbot, he did not want to take the rank out of his humility. Despite his leading role in the creation of this settlement, Sergius still remained a model of humility for the monks - he, like everyone else, did any work. He carried water, chopped wood, cooked food, and prayed fervently at night. By his example, he confirmed the established rule - to live according to one’s labors, and not with the help of alms.

Very little time passed, and this monastery became famous in the area; many people decided to donate their property to it and moved closer to Sergius. Thus, this monastery ceased to suffer from poverty, and gradually turned into a rich monastery.
They even learned about it in Constantinople, and Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus solemnly handed over to Sergius the cross, paraman, schema and letter in which he glorified him for such a virtuous life.

On the advice of the patriarch and with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexei, the Monk Sergius introduced a community-living charter in the monastery, which was later taken as the basis in almost all monasteries in Rus'.

Having begun to live according to such a strict rule, the monks began to grumble about hard life, after all, they were already accustomed to prosperity and glory and, seeing this dissatisfaction, the Monk Sergius decided to leave the monastery. He went to the Kirzhach River, where he founded a new monastery in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Without St. Sergius, the former monastery began to decline, the monks began to scatter, and those who remained asked Metropolitan Alexy to help them return the saint.
The Monk Sergius complied with the saint's request and returned, leaving the Kirzhach Monastery in the care of the Monk Roman, his favorite disciple.

Even during his lifetime, St. Sergius received from God the gift of working miracles; the fame of his miracles became known not only in the immediate area, but also far beyond the monastery. Everyone received help, healing or life-saving advice from him. There is a known case when a saint was able, by God’s will, to resurrect a child who died in his father’s arms.

People loved St. Sergius and revered him on a par with the holy fathers, but he still remained a model of humility; human glory was not a vital necessity for the saint.

Famous interesting case, which happened to the Bishop of Perm Saint Stephen (April 27), who very much loved and revered St. Sergius.
Saint Stephen once passed by the Sergius Monastery on his way to Moscow, but he did not have the opportunity to visit Sergius. Stefan decided that he would visit the monastery on the way back, stopped on the road, prayed, bowed and said the words that were addressed to St. Sergius:

"Peace be with you, spiritual brother"

At this time the saint was in the refectory; he suddenly stood up, read a prayer and sent a return blessing to the saint. The brethren who were next to Sergius were very surprised by the unusual act, and some disciples went to the indicated place, caught up with the saint and were convinced that the vision was true.

More than once, monks witnessed other miracles that happened to Saint Sergius. Once, during the divine liturgy, an Angel of the Lord served the Reverend, but Sergius, in his humility, never talked about this and even forbade anyone to talk about this miracle until the end of his earthly life.

The Monk Sergius was spiritually very close to Metropolitan Saint Alexy, who very much wanted, after his death, to leave the Russian Metropolis in the care of the saint. Sergius never became high priest, humbly refusing such an honor.

In his life, Sergius often turned out to be an instrument of reconciliation between warring people. During the Mongol-Tatar yoke, to defeat the enemy, he was able "in quiet and meek words" convince the princes to submit to the Grand Duke of Moscow. Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan prince Oleg and many others, according to the conviction of St. Sergius, humbled their pride and stood under the banner of Prince Dmitry Ioannovich in the Battle of Kulikovo.

Before this decisive battle, Prince Dmitry, along with many boyars and governors, came to Sergius to receive his blessing. The saint blessed the prince and predicted his victory in this battle. From the monastery on a campaign, together with Dmitry, two warrior monks, Peresvet and Ooslabya, went on a campaign, who, together with the soldiers, fought the enemy.
According to church canons, monks are not allowed to take up arms, but St. Sergius deviated from this law. When people saw two monks next to Prince Dmitry, everyone understood that this war was sacred and this instilled great confidence in victory.

During his angelic life, St. Sergius was awarded a heavenly vision. One night, the Mother of God herself appeared to Saint Sergius, who was praying with his disciple the Monk Micah (May 6), along with the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. From an unearthly bright light, the Monk Sergius fell to the ground, and the Most Holy Mother of God touched him with her hands and blessed him, promising to always be the patroness of his holy monastery.

Having lived to an advanced age, Sergius, six months before his death, blessed his disciple, the Monk Nikon, experienced in spiritual life and obedience, to be abbot.
On the eve of the day of his departure from earthly life, the Monk Sergius addressed the brethren for the last time with his will, in which he said:

“Take heed to yourselves, brothers. First have the fear of God, spiritual purity and unfeigned love...”

In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, Sergius founded several more monasteries, such as the Annunciation Monastery on Kirzhach, Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna, the Vysotsky Monastery, and the St. George Monastery on Klyazma. In all these monasteries he appointed his students as abbots.
More than 40 monasteries were founded by his students: Savva (Savvo-Storozhevsky near Zvenigorod), Ferapont (Ferapontov), Kirill (Kirillo-Belozersky), Sylvester (Voskresensky Obnorsky), etc., as well as his spiritual interlocutors, such as Stefan of Perm.

GREATNESS

We bless you, Reverend Father Sergius, and honor your holy memory, teacher of monks and interlocutor of angels.